What I do is serve with the Civil Air Patrol. The CAP has a threefold mission: Emergency Services, Cadet Programs, and Aerospace Education. It is associated with the US Air Force and there are units all across the US in every state. You do not have to be a citizen, but you must be at least a resident alien. It is a volunteer program, so you can do it in addition to your regular job.

The main emergency services mission is to search for lost aircraft, but CAP is also called on to assist in other Search and Rescue incidents and Disaster Relief.

If you're interested, check out www.cap.gov.

1st Lt David Dove
Frederick Composite Squadron
Maryland Wing
Civil Air Patrol